NFL Preseason Schedule: Dates, Times, TV Coverage Info and More

When it comes right down to the it, it really is different, on a variety of levels. Veterans in new homes and rookies on the hunt for playing time as they adapt to the league are a given, but new dynamics on and off the field make it a summer to monitor closely.

On the field, a new change to the rules sees kickers attempting extra points from the 20-yard line, which in simpler terms means it is now a 38-year field goal. Off the field, high-profile negotiations come equipped with a new wrinkle now that the first impacts of the 2011 labor tussle see players who have had fifth-year options exercised begin to bargain for more cash.

It is rather easy to forget that 65 contests are about to unfold. They do not count, but for those on the bubble, they mean everything. The full slate can be found below, with some storylines to watch after the jump.

Fresh off knee surgery, RGIII's actions gave way to a media circus. Or his inaction, as Mike Shanahan and Co. were a tad hesitant to let the former Baylor star give it a college try in the preseason after being hit with blame that overuse caused his injury in the first place.

Who can forget Operation Patience, as captured by ESPN's Darren Rovell:

One day after the NFL fined him $10,000 for wearing unauthorized apparel before a Monday night game against Pittsburgh, Griffin had his retort.

It came at the Redskins' annual Welcome Home Luncheon, shortly after an auction for charity ended. Griffin was speaking because he had just been named the alumni's 2012 Offensive Player of the Year.

He opened by saying, "Those auctioneers did a good job. I would've given them 10 grand, but the NFL took it away from me this week."

So here we are in 2014, Griffin is healthy and will finally play in the preseason once more, and best of all, he will do so under the watchful eye of offensive guru and first-year coach Jay Gruden.

Oh, and he will not only have last year's league leader in receptions around, Pierre Garcon, but he will now have former rival DeSean Jackson to work with.

For Griffin, it all equates to a redemption story that begins with a preseason duel against—how poetic—Tom Brady. He says the schedule gives him a unique opportunity, per Tarik El-Bashir of CSN Washington:

I’ve talked to Tom before. But when they get here, everyone will be focused on what they are focused on. It’s not buddy-up time. If I get a chance to sit down and talk to him, I’d love to, just to pick his brain. But he’s also still playing quarterback in the NFL. It’s a competitive position, a competitive sport. So I don’t expect him to give me any groundbreaking secrets.

This preseason, RGIII's health, overall sharpness and the slight hints of what is to come in a somewhat new offense under the pass-happy Gruden make him the most important player to watch as he enters his third year.

Old Names, New Homes

A staple of the preseason is the chance to see players who have finally found new homes take the field in their new jerseys.

Take Steve Smith, for example. After 13 years with the Carolina Panthers and acting as a key mentor for a young Cam Newton, the Utah product is now in Baltimore and hopes to both help guide Torrey Smith and make quarterback Joe Flacco more productive.

Well, and add a bit of attitude in the process. Offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak admits that Smith has been a bit of a challenge so far this preseason, as captured by Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun:

Boy, I watched him today, and I'll tell you it was his best day with me out here. It's just because each day he's getting more comfortable with what we're doing. He's just so competitive. He brings an edge to practice all the time. He challenges people as far as how you play, how you go about doing things.

He challenged coaches, too. Every good offense that I've been around has had a few of those guys saying, 'Get me the ball, coach.' And that's a good thing. That's what you want. He works to get the ball, so that's what's impressive to me.

Let's flip to the defensive side of things to illustrate the same thing, albeit way out west in Oakland. The Raiders actually seem on an upward trajectory thanks to smart moves from the front office as of late, which includes the additions of veterans Justin Tuck and LaMarrWoodley in the defensive trenches.

Sure, Tuck is 31 years old, but it will be quite a strange sight to see him in silver and black rather than the New York blue he donned for the prior nine years. To understand what a quality get Tuck is for the organization, one merely has to glance at his last few seasons, highlighted by the comeback story last year:

Year

G

Total

Sack

2010

16

75

11.0

2011

12

37

5.0

2012

15

45

4.0

2013

16

63

11.0

ESPN

Woodley is a very similar story at 29 years of age, although he has missed 14 games in the past three years. Still, it will be quite interesting to see him without the yellow and black he wore for the past seven years.

The list goes on and on—Jairus Byrd, Darrelle Revis, Michael Johnson, DeMarcus Ware, Branden Albert and more have new homes. The three detailed above simply exemplify the strange feeling fans will get upon first viewing.

It is a typical preseason in this regard, but perhaps the most potent in quite some time.